Information transmitting method and television broadcast receiver

ABSTRACT

The address information for reading the detailed information of a computer server which provides the detailed information of distribution information displayed on a predetermined display screen together with a single program or plural programs is transmitted with each program information, so as to realize an information transmitting method and a television broadcasting receiving apparatus which easily obtain, if necessary, the detailed information of the distribution information transmitted with each program information without storage of it at a receiving side.

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an information transmitting method anda television broadcasting receiving apparatus, and more particularly,applicable to a program broadcasting system for guiding and displayinginformation relating to each program, when a viewer selects a necessaryprogram among from a large number of television programs transmittedthrough a satellite broadcasting.

2. Background Arts

Recently, in a satellite broadcasting system for sending televisionprograms to viewers via a broadcasting satellite, a method forcompressive-encoding and multiplexing the program data of pluralchannels by using the MPEG2 (Moving Picture Image Coding Experts GroupPhase 2) and transmitting it has been proposed. Such digitaltransmitting method can transmit a vast of programs at the same time,thereby increasing the number of programs a viewer can select.

The program data encoded and multiplexed by the MPEG2 is multiplexedwith program guide information, and transmitted. The program guideinformation is displayed at a receiver in the form like a televisionprogram guide column on a newspaper, for example.

The program guide information is repeatedly transmitted so as to bereceived at a receiver side at any time, and as the number of programsincreases, the data size becomes larger. Also, the program guideinformation includes the information of programs which will bebroadcasted in the future, and the data size changes depending on thecondition that the program guide information of how many days ahead istransmitted. To display such a large number of data at a receiving sideinstantly, it can be considered that a recording medium such as a harddisk is provided in the receiver to successively store the transmittedprogram data.

However, if a recording medium such as a hard disk is provided in areceiving side, the whole construction of a receiver becomes complicatedand large, and there is a problem that it costs the viewer. When thesize of data to be transmitted becomes larger, the number of times thedata can be repeatedly transmitted is reduced at a transmitting side. Asa result, the receiving side can not display a program guide instantly,so that the size of data to be transmitted as program guide informationis necessarily limited within the minimum. Thereby, even if a user wantsto know the detailed program information more, the information is nottransmitted, or it takes a long time to receive it. Moreover, theinformation which is not directly related to a program, such as acommercial (CM), is not transmitted in detail.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention is to solve the problems described above, and to providean information transmitting method and a television broadcastingreceiving apparatus which can easily obtain, if necessary, distributioninformation transmitted together with program data without being storedat a receiving side.

To solve the above problems, according to this invention, addressinformation for reading the detailed information from a computer serverwhich provides the detailed information of the distribution informationdisplayed together with the information of a program or plural programson a predetermined display screen is transmitted together with theinformation of each program.

Further, according to this invention, there provides specifying meansfor specifying the distribution information displayed together with theinformation of a program or plural programs on a predetermined displayscreen, and access means for accessing a computer server which providesthe detailed information of the distribution information specified bythe specifying means through a computer network and taking in thedetailed information from the computer server, based on the addressinformation transmitted together with the information of each program.The detailed information taken in by the access means is displayed onthe display screen.

As a result, this can prevent the receiving apparatus from being largeand complicated construction due to the storage of all the detailedinformation of the distribution information transmitted together withthe information of each program, and avoid the uneconomical method thatthe detailed information of the distribution information which isinterested by a user is transmitted by using a television broadcasting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the whole construction of a programbroadcasting system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a transmitteraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of EPG data;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of programcontent data of the EPG data in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of a receiver;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the construction of a receiver/decoderprovided in the receiver in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 are schematic diagrams showing B data and the screen layout;

FIG. 8 are schematic diagrams showing B data and the screen layout;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram explaining a data reference procedure tocreate C data.

FIG. 10 is a plain diagram showing the outward construction of a remotecommander;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure for displaying EPG;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram explaining an information providingprogram displayed on a display screen of a monitor device;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure for displaying CMinformation;

FIG. 14 are schematic diagrams showing display examples of home page;and

FIG. 15 is a schematically perspective view showing the outwardconstruction of a program guide display device according to otherembodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the embodiment of this invention will be described indetails referring to the drawings.

(1) The whole construction of a program broadcasting system

In FIG. 1, 1 shows a program broadcasting system as a whole. In abroadcasting station, various television programs are produced andvarious commercials (CM) are produced based on the commercialinformation provided from each CM sponsor in accordance with anadvertisement contract with a plurality of CM sponsors. Further, in thebroadcasting station, the commercial information provided from aplurality of sponsors is superimposed on a program guide in addition tousual television programs.

A transmitter 2 provided in the broadcasting station transmitstelevision programs and CM video audio data (hereinafter, referred to asprogram data and CM data, respectively) which comprise plural channels,by transport streams prescribed by the MPEG2 systems, and at the sametime transmits program guide information (hereinafter, referred to asEPG (Electronic Program Guide) data).

In the MPEG2 systems, a large number of individual transport streams aretime-division-multiplied by a transport packet of comparatively shorttransmission unit, so as to transmit the program information ofmultichannel.

The information for identifying the contents of packet data is assignedto the header portion of the transport packet. A receiver which receivesthe broadcasting wave separates a packet necessary to decode by theinformation for identifying the contents.

In each of receivers 4, the transport packets of program data, CM data,and EPG data of a desired channel are respectively picked up from themultiplexed transport stream which is based on the received broadcastingwave S1. Based on the video audio data stored in these transportpackets, a processing for decoding/displaying a program and CM and aprocessing for displaying a program guide are performed.

Here, each CM sponsor and broadcasting station (FIG. 1) have terminaldevices 6A, 6B, . . . , and 7 which are respectively connected to anInternet 5. Each of the terminal devices 6A, 6B, . . . , and 7 can setup a personal home page as a www server, and can search the set up homepage by other terminal devices to display the information of thesearched home page if necessary.

Also, each of the receivers 4A, 4B, . . . contains a modem insidethereof, so as to connect to the Internet 5 through an Internet serviceprovider (now shown). Thereby, each of the receivers 4A, 4B, . . . cansearch various home pages which are set up in the www server to take inthe information of a desired home page.

(2) The construction of transmitter

As shown in FIG. 2, the transmitter 2 in the broadcasting stationproduces output management data comprising broadcasting timeinformation, program ID, and so on in an output management dataproducing part 10, and supplies this data to a main control part 11 andan EPG editor 12 as output management data D_(BC). The main control part11 generates timing control signal S_(TM) which represents a timing ofoutputting each program, based on the output management data D_(BC), andoutputs this signal to encoders 13, 14 and an EPG sub-control part 15 tocontrol the operation of outputting data in each circuit.

A video data producing part 16 and an audio data producing part 17produce video data D_(V) and audio data D_(A) which consist of variousprogram data and CM data, which are compressive-encoded by the MPEG2through the encoders 13 and 14 respectively. Then, they are synchronizedwith the timing control signal S_(TM) to be supplied to a multiplexer18.

Further, the EPG editor 12 takes in the output management data D_(BC)and the commercial information D_(CM) provided from plural CM sponsors(FIG. 1), and based on this data, produces EPG data D_(EPG) to supplythis to the EPG sub-control part 15. In the EPG sub-control part 15, thesupplied EPG data D_(EPG) is synchronized with the timing control signalS_(TM) to supply this to the multiplexer 18.

The multiplexer 18 time-division-multiplies the encoded video dataD_(V), audio data D_(A), and EPG data D_(EPG), so that these data aretransmitted as a transport stream TS.

(3) The construction of EPG data

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the EPG data D_(EPG) produced by the EPGeditor 12 of the transmitter 2 consists of the information D_(PC)relating to the programs of each broadcasting channel during several tenhours from current time (e.g., channel of program, broadcasting time,title, genre, program comments, and so on) (hereinafter, referred to asprogram content data), and the information D_(ML) relating to the layoutof screen for displaying a program list and the detailed information ofa program (hereinafter, referred to as screen layout data).

The program content data D_(PC) hierarchically consists of: the data inwhich an information group representing program contents for eachprogram is assigned to plural programs each having a broadcasting formsuch as for regular program, for rebroadcasting, for broadcasting at akey station, or for broadcasting at a local station (hereinafter,referred to as A1 data); the data in which only a particular informationgroup which is common in a plurality of programs of the A1 data isarranged as a single program (hereinafter, referred to as A2 data); andthe data which represents the detailed contents of the informationgroups consisting of respective programs of the A1 data and the A2 data(hereinafter, referred to as A3 data). Here, the A1 data is possible tobe changed depending on the broadcasting form, such as broadcastingyear/month/date and the broadcasting starting time. The A2 data is afixed information which is not changed depending on the broadcastingform, such as the program name, program detailed information, stillpictures, sounds, moving pictures, and the names of guests. The A3 datais comparatively large sized data and detailed information, such asstill pictures, sounds, moving pictures, a guide, the names of guests,broadcasting form, a category, and the name of broadcasting station. Inthe case of the multichannel broadcasting such as a digital satellitebroadcasting, the same program is repeatedly broadcasted with aninterval, so that the program information which changes when broadcastedrepeatedly is set to as the A1 data, and the program information whichdoes not change when broadcasted repeatedly is set to as the A2 data.

In details, as shown in FIG. 4A, the A1 data D_(A1) consists of severaldata relating to each program (for regular broadcasting F1 and forrebroadcasting F2), such as “A1 DATA TAG” representing the A1 data, “A1DATA NO.” representing the serial number of the A1 data, “REF. A2 DATANO.” representing the serial number for referring to the A2 data,“BROADCASTING Y/M/D”, “START TIME”, “END TIME”, “BROADCASTING STA. NO.”,“PROGRAM CATEGORY NO.” representing the number of the type of programssuch as news, entertainment, and movie, “SUB-CATEGORY NO.”,“BROADCASTING FORM NO.” representing the number of the form such asstereo, bilingual, and clear vision, and “CM TAG NO.” representing theCM information.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the A2 data DA₂ comprises a program(standard program) F3 that the common data among the programs of the A1data are collected and put in order, and consists of respective serialnumbers for referring to the data of program name, program detailedinformation, still picture, sound, moving picture, and the name ofguests, such as “A2 DATA TAG” representing the A2 data, “A2 DATA NO.”representing the serial number of the A2 data, “PROGRAM NAME”, “DETAILSNO.”, “STILL PICTURE NO.”, “SOUND NO.”, “MOVING PICTURE NO.”, “NUMBER OFGUESTS”, “GUEST NAME NO.[0]”, . . . , and “GUEST NAME NO.[N]”.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the A3 data D_(A3) consists of the datarepresenting the detailed contents relating to still picture, sound,moving picture, guide, the name of guests, broadcasting form, category,the name of broadcasting station, and CM, among the programs of the A1data and A2 data.

For example, data F4 relating to the broadcasting station consists of“A3 BROADCASTING STA. TAG” representing the A3 data, “BROADCASTING STA.NO.”, and “BROADCASTING STA. NAME”. Further, data F5 relating tocategory consists of “A3 CATEGORY TAG”, “CATEGORY NO.”, and “CATEGORYNAME”. Furthermore, data F6 relating to the broadcasting form consistsof “A3 BROADCASTING FORM TAG”, “BROADCASTING FORM NO.”, and“BROADCASTING FORM NAME”. Data F7 relating to guests consists of “A3GUEST TAG”, “GUEST NO.”, “GUEST NAME”, “GUEST INFORMATION”, and “GUESTSTILL PICTURE NO.”. Data F8 relating to the program detailed informationconsists of “A3 GUIDE TAG”, “DETAILS NO.”, and “DETAILS”.

Also, data F9 of still picture consists of “A3 PICTURE TAG”, “STILLPICTURE NO.”, and “STILL PICTURE DATA”. Sound data F10 consists of “A3SOUND TAG”, “SOUND NO.”, and “SOUND DATA”. Moving picture data F11consists of “A3 MOVIE TAG”, “MOVING PICTURE NO.”, and “MOVING PICTUREDATA”.

Furthermore, data F12 relating to CM consists of “A3 CM TAG”, “DISPLAYPOSITION”, “CM STILL PICTURE NO.”, “CM SOUND NO.”, “CM MOVING PICTURENO.”, and “URL (Uniform Resource Locater)”. The URL is the standardswhich is provided to prescribe means for accessing the informationresource of Internet (e.g., www server) and the name of informationresource.

Here is the case where the program “◯◯◯◯” is practically broadcasted at12:00 pm, and is rebroadcasted at 17:00 pm. The EPG editor 12 firstlyproduces the A1 data D_(A1) of program for regular broadcasting F1 andthe A1 data D_(A1) of program for rebroadcasting F2, based on the outputmanagement data D_(BC) having the program information of “◯◯◯◯”, andthen produces the A2 data D_(A2) which is referred in common betweenthese A1 data D₁. The EPG editor 12 then produces the A3 data D_(A3)which is more detailed data referred by the A1 data D_(A1) and A2 dataD_(A2). The data F12 relating to CM of the A3 data D_(A3) is produced bythe EPG editor 12 based on the commercial information D_(CM) describedabove.

(4) The construction of receiver

In the receiver 4 in FIG. 5, the broadcasting wave S1 received by aparabolic antenna 20 is demodulated and compressive-decoded at anintegrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 21. The resultant video/audio signalSV1 is output to a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) 22 of the VHS system.

The VCR 22 records the video/audio signal SV1 in a video tape loadedinside, or outputs the video/audio signal SV1 from an output line as itis to a monitor device 23 to display it on the monitor.

When a viewer operates a remote commander 24, the command correspondingto the operation is converted into infrared ray signal IR to be outputto the integrated receiver/decoder 21. The integrated receiver/decoder21 executes various operations based on the command, the operations suchas channel change, registering/reading user data, outputting controlsignal CONT to respective devices (the VCR 22, the VCR 25, the DVD 26,and the MD 27) which are connected to the integrated receiver/decoder21. The control signal CONT is output to the VCR 22 through a controlline.

When the VCR 22 is specified as a target to be controlled by the controlsignal CONT, the VCR 22 is controlled by the control signal CONT. On theother hand, when any of devices which are successively connected to theVCR 22 through the control line (the VCR 25 of 8 mm system, the digitalvideo disc (DVD) player 26, the mini disc (MD) player 27, and themonitor device 23) is specified, the VCR 22 outputs the control signalCONT as it is to the following VCR 25 of 8 mm system.

When receiving the control signal CONT, the VCR 25 determines the devicespecified by the control signal CONT. When the determined result is theVCR 25, the VCR 25 executes the operation specified by the controlsignal CONT. If the command is for reproducing a 8 mm video tape loadedin the VCR 25 for example, the VCR 25 reproduces the video tape, so asto output the reproduced video signal SV3 to the monitor device 23 todisplay it.

Further, if the command of the control signal CONT is for recording, atthe VCR 25, the broadcasting signal (video/audio signal SV1) receivedand decoded by the integrated receiver/decoder 21, the VCR 25 recordsthe video/audio signal SV1 input from the integrated receiver/decoder 21through the VCR 22 of the VHS system and the monitor device 23. On theother hand, if the VCR 25 is not a target to be controlled by thecontrol signal CONT, the VCR 25 outputs the control signal CONT as it isto the following DVD 26.

When receiving the control signal CONT, the DVD 26 determines the devicespecified by the control signal CONT. When the determined result is theDVD 26, the DVD 26 executes the operation specified by the controlsignal CONT. If the command is for reproducing an image and/or soundfrom a disc loaded in the DVD 26 for example, the DVD 26 reproduces thedisc, so as to output video/audio signal SV4 to the monitor device 23 todisplay it. On the other hand, if the DVD 26 is not a target to becontrolled by the control signal CONT, the DVD 26 outputs the controlsignal CONT to as it is the following MD 27.

When receiving the control signal CONT, the MD 27 determines the devicespecified by the control signal CONT. When the determined result is theMD 27, the MD 27 executes the operation specified by the control signalCONT. If the command is for reproducing a disc loaded in the MD 27 forexample, the MD 27 reproduces the disc, so as to output audio signal SV5to the monitor device 23 to display that it can be listened.

Also, if the command of the control signal CONT is for recording, at theMD 27, the broadcasting signal (video/audio signal SV1) received anddecoded by the integrated receiver/decoder 21, the MD 27 records theaudio signal of the video/audio signal SV1 input from the integratedreceiver/decoder 21 through the VCR 22 of the VHS system and the monitordevice 23. On the other hand, if the MD 27 is not a target to becontrolled by the control signal CONT, the MD 27 outputs the controlsignal CONT as it is to the following monitor device 23. At this time,the monitor device 23 executes the operation specified by the controlsignal CONT.

(5) The construction of receiving and decoding device

As shown in FIG. 6, in the integrated receiver/decoder 21, thebroadcasting wave received by a LNB (Low Noise Block Downconverter) 20Aof the parabolic antenna 20 is supplied to a front end 30. Note that theprogram guide information (EPG data) and so on are superimposed on thebroadcasting wave in accordance with the prescribed format.

The front end 30 is provided with a tuner 31, a demodulating circuit 32,and an error correcting circuit 33, and respective circuit parts arecontrolled by a system controller 44. The broadcasting wave received bythe antenna 20 is supplied to the tuner 31. The tuner 31 performs atuning processing in accordance with the control of the systemcontroller 44. The output of the tuner 31 is supplied to thedemodulating circuit 32 to be demodulated. The output of thedemodulating circuit 32 is supplied to the error correcting circuit 33,in which an error is detected and corrected, and if necessarycompensated.

In a CAM (Conditional Access Module) 34 comprising a CPU and an IC cardcomprising a ROM and a RAM, a key necessary to decode codes is storedtogether with the decoding program. Because the signal transmitted via abroadcasting satellite is coded, the key and the decoding processing areneeded to decode the codes. Then, the key is read out from the CAM 34through a card reader interface 35, and is supplied to a demultiplexer36. The demultiplexter 36 uses the key to decode the coded signal.

The demultiplexer 36 receives the signal output from the errorcorrecting circuit 33 of the front end 30, and temporarily stores it ina data buffer memory 51 comprising a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)or a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The demultiplexer 36 suitablyreads this, and supplies the video signal of the read signal to a MPEGvideo decoder 37 and supplies audio signal to a MPEG audio decoder 38.

The MPEG video decoder 37 stores the digital video signal supplied fromthe demultiplexer 36 in a DRAM 37A to decode the video signal compressedby the MPEG system. The decoded video signal is supplied to a NTSCencoder 39, which is converted into luminance signal (Y), chroma signal(C), and composite signal (V) of the NTSC system. the luminance signal(Y) and the chroma signal (C) are output as S video signal throughbuffer amplifiers 40Y and 40C. The composite signal is output through abuffer amplifier 40V.

The MPEG audio decoder 38 stores the digital video signal supplied fromthe demultiplexer 36 in a DRAM 38A to decode the audio signal compressedby the MPEG system. The decoded audio signal is digital-to-analogconverted in a D/A converter 41. The audio signal of left channel isoutput through a buffer amplifier 42L. The audio signal of right channelis output through a buffer amplifier 42R.

A RF modulator 43 converts the composite signal output from the NTSCencoder 39 and the audio signal output from the D/A converter 41 into RFsignal, and outputs it. Further, when the television (TV) mode is set,the RF modulator 43 passes through the television signal of the NTSCsystem input from other AV device such as a cable box, and outputs it toother device. In this embodiment, the video signal and audio signal aresupplied to the VCR 22 through the AV line.

The system controller 44 executes various processings in accordance withthe programs stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) 45. For instance, thesystem controller 44 controls the tuner 31, the demodulating circuit 32,and the error correcting circuit 33 which are provided in the front end30.

To the system controller 44, a predetermined command can be directlyinput by operating an operation button switch (not shown) of a frontpanel 47. Further, when the operation keys of the remote commander 24are operated, the infrared ray signal is output from an IR sending partof the remote commander 24 and received by an IR receiving part 48, andthen the received result is supplied to the system controller 44.Thereby, the remote commander 24 is operated so as to input apredetermined command to the system controller 44.

The multiplexer 36 takes in the EPG data D_(EPG) (which is temporarilystored in the buffer memory 51) excepting the MPEG video data and audiodata supplied from the front end 30, and supplies it to a multimediaprocessor 46 through the system controller 44. The multimedia processor46 comprises an EPG processing part 46A, a browser controlling part 46B,a memory 46C, and a graphic engine 46D. The multimedia processor 46produces data for displaying a screen such as a program list, contains abrowser software of Internet, and performs HTML (Hyper Text MarkupLanguage) processing.

The program guide information (EPG data) includes the informationrelating to programs of each broadcasting channel during a predeterminedterm from current time (e.g., still picture of program, channel,broadcasting time, title, and category). The program guide informationis transmitted frequently, so that the latest EPG data is alwaysmaintained in a memory 46C of the multimedia processor 46.

An EPG processing part 46A picks up necessary items of the A1 to A3 dataD_(A1) to D_(A3) constituting the program content data D_(PC) from theEPG data D_(EPG) stored in the memory 46C so that they correspond to thelayout of the display screen based on the screen layout data D_(ML) andproduces the data D_(B) of a predetermined format (hereinafter, referredto as B data) (FIG. 3). The B data D_(B) has two types of format andconsists of the data D_(B1) and D_(B2) (hereinafter, referred to as B1data and B2 data). The B2 data D_(B2) refers to the B1 data D_(B1).

Further, the EPG processing part 46A refers to the program content dataD_(PC), and based on the B1 data D_(B1), the B2 data D_(B2) and thescreen layout data D_(ML), produces the display data D_(C) (hereinafter,referred to as C data) (FIG. 3 described later) that various programdetailed information are assigned to the layout of the screen fordisplaying the EPG data D_(EPC) (hereinafter, referred to as EPGscreen). The display data of the EPG screen produced in this way iswritten in the DRAM 37A with a bit map form. The display data written inthe DRAM 37A is processed by the MPEG video decoder 37 to be displayed.

Also, the browser controlling part 46B creates bit map data of home pagebased on the HTML data transmitted from the www server on the Internet 5through a modem 52 connected to a telephone line and the systemcontroller 44, and writes it in the DRAM 37A. The display data writtenin the DRAM 37A is processed by the MPEG video decoder 37 to bedisplayed.

In this way, the EPG processing part 46A and the browser controllingpart 46B process the EPG screen and the bit map data of the home page,so that the EPG screen and the home page can be displayed and viewed.

An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 50appropriately stores data which is desired to be kept after a powersupply is turned off, such as various setting data which is set by auser in various items on a menu screen (e.g., favorite channel data setby a user), and channel number received immediately before apredetermined operation is performed (the last channel).

In the case where a sleep mode is set, the system controller 44 makes aminimum number of circuits, such as the front end 30, the demultiplexer36, and the data buffer memory 51, to be in the operable state, even ifthe power supply is turned off, and checks the current time from thetime information included in the reception signal thereby controllingeach circuit to execute a predetermined operation at a predeterminedtime. For instance, a timer automatic recording can be performed byoperating with the external VCR.

In the case where a predetermined on-screen display (OSD) data isdesired to be generated, the system controller 44 controls the MPEGvideo decoder 37. More specifically, the system controller 44 creates apredetermined on-screen display data, and writes it in the on-screendisplay data area of the DRAM 37A of the MPEG video decoder 37 as bitmap data. Thereby, predetermined characters, figures, images, and so onare appropriately output to the display screen 23A of the monitor device23 to be displayed.

Further, a SRAM 49 is used as a work memory of the system controller 44.The modem 52 transfers data through the telephone line under the controlof the system controller 44.

(6) Display and conversion processing of EPG data

A data processing procedure, which creates the C data D_(C) from the EPGdata D_(EPG) obtained by receiving the broadcasting wave S1 and performsa display and conversion processing such as the generation of bit mapdata of the EPG screen in the multimedia processor 46 shown in FIG. 6,is explained here.

Among from the A1 data D_(A1), A2 data D_(A2), and A3 data D_(A3), whichare stored in the memory 46C in the multimedia processor 46 through theparabolic antenna 20, the front end 30, the demultiplexer 36, and thesystem controller 44, necessary items are extracted by the EPGprocessing part 46A in accordance with the layout of display screen, tocreate B1 data D_(B1) and B2 data D_(B2).

Each data structure and data contents of the B1 data D_(B1) and B2 dataD_(B2) are different depending on the layout of the EPG screen based onthe screen layout data D_(ML). For example, in the case where the layoutof the EPG screen is to make a program list screen for displayingprograms for one day in a predetermined channel, as shown in FIG. 7,based on the screen layout data D_(ML), program frames for 24-hours areset in the B1 data D_(B1) as shown in FIG. 7A.

More specifically, the B1 data D_(B1) consists of “B1 DATATAG”representing B1 data, “B1 DATA SERIAL NO.” representing the serialnumber of the B1 data, “B2 DATA SERIAL NO.” representing the serialnumber of the B2 data corresponding to the B1 data, “BROADCASTING DATE”,“BROADCASTING STATION”, “0:00 PROGRAM FRAME”, “0:10 PROGRAM FRAME”, . .. , “23:50 PROGRAM FRAME” representing program frames set for everypredetermined time, and “CM#1” to “CM#K”. The CM tag numberscorresponding to respective program columns of a program list areassigned to the CM#1 and CM#K in this case.

The B2 data D_(B2) is data obtained by referring the B1 data D_(B1), andas shown in FIG. 7B, B2 data D_(B2) consists of “B2 DATA TAG”representing B2 data, “B2 DATA SERIAL NO.” representing the serialnumber of the B2 data, “B2 DATA SIZE” representing the size of the B2data, and “STACK #1” to “STACK #N” in which the serial number of A1 datais written. To display the program list screen having the screen layoutshown in FIG. 7C, the serial number of the A1 data of the program listcorresponding to each time is input in each of the stack #1 to #N forexample.

On the other hand, when the layout of the EPG screen is to make aprogram detailed information screen for displaying the detailedinformation of programs shown in FIG. 8C based on the screen layout dataD_(ML), the EPG processing part 46A (FIG. 6) searches a program fordisplaying the program detailed information with being classified bycategory, and inputs the serial number of the A1 data corresponding to apredetermined category in each stack.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the frames of the program detailed information forthe number of programs to be displayed are provided in the B1 dataD_(B1), and the stack numbers of the B2 data are assigned theretocorresponding to the frames of the program detailed information. The B1data D_(B1) consists of “B1 DATA TAG” representing B1 data, “B1 DATASERIAL NO.” representing the serial number of the B1 data, “B2 DATASERIAL NO.” representing the serial number of the B2 data correspondingto the B1 data, “CATEGORY”, “PAGE”, “DETAILED INFORMATION #1” to“DETAILED INFORMATION #6”, and “CM#1” to “CM#6”. The CM informationcorresponding to the program detailed information #1 to #6 are assignedto the CM#1 and CM#6 in this case. While, the B2 data D_(B2) consists ofthe same format (FIG. 7B) as that of the program list screen describedabove (FIG. 8B).

By using the B1 data D_(B1), the B2 data D_(B2), and the screen layoutdata D_(ML), the EPG processing part 46A creates the C data (displaydata) D_(C). The C data D_(C) refers the A1 data DA_(A1), the A2 dataD_(A2), and the A3 data D_(A3) through the B1 data D_(B1) and the B2data D_(B2). The C data D_(C) created in this way is stored in the DRAM37A as bit map data of the EPG screen, and is read out by the MPEG videodecoder 37 described above to be displayed on the EPG screen of themonitor device 23.

In this case, as the screen layout data referred by the C data D_(C), astandard screen layout data D_(ML), previously stored in a memory of themultimedia processor 46 may be referred in addition to the transmittedscreen layout data D_(ML) (FIG. 3).

In this connection, FIG. 9 shows a data referring process to create theC data D_(C). In this case, an arrow in the figure denotes the directionfor referring data. First, the A3 data D_(A3) is referred by the A1 dataD_(A1), and the A2 data DA₂, the A2 data D_(A2) is referred by the A1data D_(A1), the A1 data D_(A1) is referred by the B2 data D_(B2), andthe B2 data D_(B2) is referred by the B1 data D_(B1). Then, the B1 dataD_(B1) and the screen layout data D_(ML) are referred by the C dataD_(C). Therefore, the C data D_(C) can refer the A3 data D_(A3) throughthe B3 data D_(B1) , the B2 data D_(B2), the A1 data D_(A1), and the A2data D_(A2).

(7) utilization of electronic program guide information

In FIG. 5, a user operates the remote commander 24 to select the channelof the information providing program representing the electronic programguide information (EPG data D_(EPG)) among from a plurality of channelswhich can be displayed on the display screen 23A of the monitor device23, so that it can be displayed on the display screen 23A.

FIG. 10 shows the construction of the remote commander 24. An IR signalsending part 24A for sending IR signal corresponding to each keyoperation described later is provided on the upper portion of the remotecommander 24. The remote commander 24 provides with a power supply keyK1 and a television power supply key K2 for turning on or off the powersource of the integrated receiver/decoder 21 and the monitor device 23respectively; a mute key K3 for muting sounds or canceling the mute,switch keys K4 and K5 for switching the function of the remote commander24 between the integrated receiver/decoder 21 and the monitor device 23,an input changing key K6 for changing the input to the integratedreceiver/decoder 21, a screen display key K7 for displaying a channelnumber and so on (which includes a station logo and title) on the screen23A of the monitor device 23 or erasing the display, a bilingual key K8for changing a voice output from the monitor device 23 into main voice,sub-voice, or main+sub-voice (foreign language, Japanese, or foreignlanguage and Japanese) in a program of bilingual broadcasting ormultiplex broadcasting, ten keys K9, on which numerals “0” to “9” aredisplayed, for inputting a numeral which is displayed on each key, andan execute key K10 for confirming that numeral is finished to be inputand the input numeral represents a channel after the operation of theten keys K9 is completed.

The remote commander 24 further provides with a menu key K11 fordisplaying a menu screen to set various items of the integratedreceiver/decoder 21 on the monitor device 23, a program details key K12for displaying a program detailed information of the electronic programguide information, a guide channel previous notice key K13 fordisplaying the previous notice of programs which will be broadcasted inthe future, a favorite list key K14 for displaying the station logo listof channel which has been previously registered by a user, a programlist key K15 for displaying the program list based on the electronicprogram guide, a reserve list key K16 for displaying reserved programs,cursor keys K17 to K20 for transferring a cursor displayed on the screen23A of the monitor device 23 up and down, left and right (for operatingthe direction), a select (enter) key K21 for selecting and deciding aframe to which a cursor is transferred by operation of the cursor keysK17 to K20, and a volume up and down key K22 and a channel up and downkey K23 for increasing or decreasing volume or channel number.

The system controller 44 can display the electronic program guide on thedisplay screen 23A of the monitor device 23 in accordance with thedisplay processing procedure RT1 of the electronic program guide shownin FIG. 11.

More specifically, when the integrated receiver/decoder 21 is turned on,the system controller 44 starts the display processing procedure RT1 atstep SP0, and judges at next step SP1 whether or not the program listkey K15 of the remote commander 24 is selected.

If an affirmative result is obtained at step SP1, the system controller44 proceeds to step SP2 to store the EPG data D_(EPG) (that is, programcontent data D_(PC) and screen layout data D_(ML)) supplied to theintegrated receiver/decoder 21 in the memory 46C of the multimediaprocessor 46, and then proceeds to step SP3.

On the contrary, when a negative result is obtained at step SP1, thesystem controller 44 returns to step SP1 again to wait until the programlist key K15 of the remote commander 24 is selected.

Next, the EPG processing part 46A proceeds to step SP3 under the controlof the remote commander 44, to extract necessary items for the layout ofdisplay screen based on the screen layout data D_(ML) among from the A1to A3 data D_(A1) to D_(A3) constituting the program content dataD_(PC). The extracted data is used to create the B data D_(B), and thena processing proceeds to step SP4.

At step SP4, the EPG processing part 46A judges whether or not thelayout of the display screen based on the screen layout data D_(ML)includes the CM display area.

When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP4, the EPG processingpart 46A proceeds to step SP5 to refer the data F12 (FIG. 4C) relatingto CM among from the A3 data D_(A3) constituting the program contentdata D_(PC), and then proceeds to step SP6.

On the contrary, when a negative result is obtained at step SP4, thesystem controller 44 proceeds to step SP6 as it is.

Next, the system controller 44 creates the C data D_(C) based on the Bdata D_(B) and the screen layout data Do at step SP6, and creates bitmap data of the EPG screen. The created bit map data is stored in theDRAM 37A at step SP7 and displayed by the MPEG video decoder 37. Afterthat, the system controller 44 proceeds to step SP8 to terminate thedisplay processing procedure RT1.

In this way, the EPG screen M1, e.g. the screen shown in FIG. 12, can bedisplayed on the display screen 23A of the monitor device 23. The EPGscreen M1 mainly has a program guide area A₁, an operation setting areaA₂, and a CM display area A₃.

In the program guide area A₁, the guide columns of television programsin various time zones are displayed for every broadcasting stations, andthe program detailed screen of a predetermined form is hierarchicallyset in each program. In the operation menu area A₂, the operation menusof “Search”, “Reserve”, “Set”, and “Return” are displayed, and theoperation screen of a predetermined form is hierarchically set in eachoperation menu.

In the CM display area A₃, the image of a program displayed at eachguide column constituting the program guide area A₁ and CM provided froma CM sponsor who contracts in advertisement are selectively displayed.

When a user actually operates the cursor keys K17 to K20 of the remotecommander 24 to transfer a cursor onto the guide column, “X X oftelevision, a large family Vol.5”, which is regularly broadcasted at7:00 pm -8:55 pm in the “◯◯ TV” broadcasting station of the channel 6among from the guide columns of the program guide area A₁, the CM or theimage corresponding to “X X of television, a large family Vol.5”assigned to the guide column is displayed in the CM display area A₃.

In the case where a CM is displayed in the CM display area A₃, in FIG.4A to 4C, the data F12 relating to CM of the A3 data D_(A3) is referredby “CM TAG NO.” corresponding to “START TIME” (7:00 pm), “END TIME”(8:55 pm), and “BROADCASTING STA. NO.” (channel 6) of the A1 dataD_(A1). Further, the still picture data F9 of the A3 data D_(A3) isreferred by “CM STILL PICTURE NO.” of the data F12 relating to CM, andresulting that the still picture data corresponding to “CM STILL PICTURENO.” is displayed in the CM display area A₃ of the EPG screen M1.

On the other hand, in the case where a screen is displayed in the CMdisplay area A₃, in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the A2 data D_(A2) is referred bythe reference A2 data number of the A1 data D_(A1). Further, the stillpicture data F9 of the A3 data D_(A3) is referred by the still picturenumber of the A2 data D_(A2), and resulting that the still picture isdisplayed in the CM display area A₃ of the EPG screen M1. In addition,the moving picture is same as this case.

When a user operates the program details key K12 to select and decidethe guide column in this condition, the program details screen M2showing the details of the selected guide column is displayed. At thistime, in FIG. 4A to 4C, the program detailed information data F8 of theA3 data D_(A3) is referred by “PROGRAM DETAILED INFORMATION NO.” of theA2 data D_(A2), and the still picture data F9 of the A3 data D_(A3) isreferred by “STILL PICTURE NO.” regarding the program detailedinformation. Further, the data F7 relating to guest of the A3 dataD_(A3) is referred by “GUEST NAME NO.[0]”, to “GUEST NAME NO.[N]” of theA2 data D_(A2).

Also in this case, the CM display area B₁ is displayed at apredetermined layout position of the program details screen M2, and inthe CM display area B₁, the CM corresponding to the selected guidecolumn is displayed. In FIG. 4A to 4C, the data F12 relating to CM ofthe A3 data D_(A3) is referred by the same “CM TAG NO.” as the CMdisplay area A₃ on the EPG screen M1, and at the same time, the stillpicture data F9 of the A3 data D_(A3) is referred by “CM STILL PICTURENO.” of the data F12 relating to CM.

When a user operates the cursor keys K17 to K20 of the remote commander24 to transfer a cursor onto the operation menu, “Search”, among fromthe operation menus in the operation menu area A₂, and then operates theselect key K21 to select and decide the operation menu, the operationscreen M3 showing the method of operating the selected operation menu isdisplayed.

Further, the CM display area C₁ is displayed at a predetermined layoutposition on the operation screen M3, and in the CM display area C₁, theCM in accordance with the guide column searched by the search operationis displayed.

In this way, different CMs are displayed in the CM display areas A₃ ofthe EPG screen M1, the CM display areas B₁ of the program details screenM2, and the CM display areas C₁ of the operation screen M3 respectively.

When a user operates the remote commander 24 to match a cursor with theCM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁ to click it, a home page showing thedetailed information of the CM displayed on the CM display area A₃, B₁,or C₁ is obtained from the www server on the Internet 5, so as todisplay it on the display screen 23A of the monitor device 23.

In this case, the system controller 44 displays the home page showingthe detailed information of the CM displayed in the CM display area A₃,B₁, or C₁ on the display screen 23A of the monitor device 23 inaccordance with the display processing procedure RT2 of the CMinformation shown in FIG. 13.

More specifically, the cursor keys K17 to K20 of the remote commander 24are operated, in the condition that the EPG screen M1, the programdetails screen M2, or the operation screen M3 is displayed on thedisplay screen 23A of the monitor device 23, to transfer a cursor to theCM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁, the system controller 44 starts thedisplay processing procedure RT2 at step SP10, and judges whether or notthe select key K21 of the remote commander 24 is clicked at step SP11.

If an affirmative result is obtained at step SP11, the system controller44 proceeds to step SP12 to read out the URL information correspondingto the CM displayed on the CM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁ from the dataF12 of the A3 data D_(A3) (FIG. 4C) among from the program content dataD_(PC) which are stored in the memory 46C of the multimedia processor46.

On the contrary, if a negative result is obtained at step SP11, thesystem controller 44 returns to step SP11 again to wait until the selectkey K21 of the remote commander 24 is clicked.

Then, the system controller 44 proceeds to step SP13 to start up thebrowser controlling part 46B in the multimedia processor 46. The startedup browser controller part 46B accesses a page corresponding to thespecified URL information through a modem 52. Thereby, the HTML data ofthe home page obtained from a desired CM sponsor's terminal device 6 isdisplayed by the browser controlling part 46B, and stored in the DRAM37A with a bit map form (step SP14).

Thus, the bit map data stored in the DRAM 37A is read out by the MPEGvideo decoder 37 and displayed on the display screen 23A. As a displaymethod, as shown in FIG. 14A to 14C, there are three kinds of displaymethods, whole screen display, two-divided display, and overlay display(the EPG screen M1 can be viewed transparently), which is selected by auser. After that, a processing proceeds to step SP15 to terminate thedisplay processing procedure RT2.

(8) Operation and effects of the embodiment

In the above construction, in the condition that the EPG screen M1 isdisplayed on the display screen 23A of the monitor device 23, a usermatches a cursor with a desired program among from a plurality ofprograms displayed on the EPG screen M1 and clicks the select key K21 ofthe remote commander 24, so that the detailed information of the programwith which the cursor is matched is displayed on the display screen 23Aas a program detailed information M2.

In such successive operation, the CM of a sponsor providing a program inwhich a user is interested (i.e., a program with which the cursor ismatched) is displayed in the CM display area A₃ of the EPG screen M1,and further the CM of a sponsor providing the program is displayed alsoin the CM display area B₁ of the program details screen M2 which isdisplayed on the display screen 23A. Thus, the CM of a sponsor providingthe program to which a user pays attention is displayed on the EPGscreen M1l and the program details screen M2 by selecting the program bythe user.

When the user operates the remote commander 24 to match a cursor ontothe CM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁ and clicks the select key K21, thehome page showing the detailed information of the CM can be displayed.

A user can get a desired information among from the informationtransmitted via a digital broadcasting through an Internet at any time.As a result, it can be prevented that the construction of the receivingapparatus is magnified and complicated because the informationtransmitted via the digital broadcasting must be all stored, and theinformation transmitted via the digital broadcasting is unnecessary tobe increased.

According to the above construction, at the time of searching a programusing the EPG screen, a user can view the CM of the sponsor providing aninteresting program, and simultaneously, the detailed information of adesired CM selected by user can be easily obtained through the Internetif necessary.

(9) Other embodiments

The embodiment described above has dealt with the case where thisinvention is applied to a system for transmitting a televisionbroadcasting by a broadcasting wave from the transmitting apparatus 2 inthe broadcasting station via the satellite transponder 3. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this, but it can be transmitted via aground wave circuit or a ground wire circuit from the transmittingapparatus 2 in the broadcasting station.

Also, the program guide display device 60 shown in FIG. 15 is connectedto a television receiving apparatus (not shown) through the televisionline 61, and the information recording medium 62 such as a DVD-ROM and aCD-ROM in which the EPG data D_(EPG) is recorded is loaded in theprogram guide display device 60 to read this, so that the same screen asthe above-mentioned information providing program (EPG screen M1, theprogram details screen M2 or the operation screen M3) can be displayedon the touch panel 60A. In this case, a telephone circuit 63 isconnected to the program guide display device 60 via the www server andInternet 5 similar to the above described case.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherevarious CMs are only displayed in the CM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁which is displayed on the EPG screen M1, the program details screen M2,or the operation screen M3. However, this invention is not only limitedto this, but the corresponding URL information also can be displayed bycharacters in the CM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁ in addition to the CM.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherevarious CMs are only displayed in the CM display area A₃, B₁, or C₁which is displayed on the EPG screen M1, the program details screen M2,or the operation screen M3. However, this invention is not only limitedto this, but as shown in FIG. 12, a cursor is matched with the CMdisplay area A₃, B₁, or C₁ so as to play a sound corresponding to the CMfrom a sound output means (speaker S_(P)) provided in the monitor device23.

Practically, when a user operates the remote commander 24 to match acursor with the sound output area A₄ displayed on the EPG screen M1 andclicks it, the sound corresponding to the CM “KΔΔΔN ◯◯X X beer” which isdisplayed in the CM display area A₃ is played from the speaker S_(P).

In this case, in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the data F12 relating to the CM of theA3 data D_(A3) is referred by “CM TAG NO.” corresponding to “START TIME”(7:00 pm), “END TIME” (8:55 pm), and “BROADCASTING STA. NO.” (channel 6)of the A1 data D_(A1). Further, the sound data F10 of the A3 data D_(A3)is referred by “CM SOUND NO.” of the data F12 relating to the CM, andresulting that the sound corresponding to “CM SOUND NO.” is played fromthe speaker S_(P).

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case where inFIGS. 4A to 4C, “CM STILL PICTURE NO.” of the data F12 relating to theCM refers the still picture data F9 of the A3 data D_(A3), so that thestill picture data corresponding to “CM STILL PICTURE NO.” is displayedin the CM display area A₃ on the EPG screen M1. However, this inventionis not only limited to this, but “CM MOVING PICTURE NO.” of the data F12relating to the CM refers the moving picture data F11 of the A3 dataD_(A3), so that the moving picture data corresponding to “CM MOVINGPICTURE NO.” can be displayed in the CM display area A₃ on the EPGscreen M1. Similarly, not only still picture but also moving picture canbe displayed in the CM display area B₁ on the program details screen M2and the CM display area C₁ on the operation screen M3.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherethe CM provided by a CM sponsor who contracts in advertisement with aprogram displayed at each guide column constituting the program guidearea A₁ is selectively displayed in the CM display area A₃ on the EPGscreen M1. However, this invention is not only limited to this, but aplurality of CMs can be successively displayed for a single program.Similarly, a plurality of CMs for a single program can be successivelydisplayed in the CM display area B₁ of the program details screen M2 andthe CM display area C₁ of the operation screen M3.

In this case, in FIG. 4A to 4C, if a plurality of “CM TAG NO.” are putin the A1 data D_(A1) and these “CM TAG NO.” successively refers thedata F12 relating to the CM of the A3 data D_(A3), a plurality of CMsfor a single program can be successively displayed with being shiftedtemporally.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherethe commercial information (CM) of the sponsor providing a correspondingprogram is applied as the distribution information displayed with theinformation of each program. However, this invention is not only limitedto this, but other distribution information can be widely applied if itis an information providing the more detailed information and latestinformation of corresponding program, such as the latest information of“automobiles for race” in the “car race” program.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherethe remote commander 24 is used as specifying means for specifying thedistribution information (CM information) displayed with each programinformation (EPG data) which is displayed on the display screen 23A ofthe monitor device 23. However, this invention is not only limited tothis, but a desired distribution information can be specified byselecting and pressing the panel plane of the touch panel by a user.Also, a desired distribution information can be specified bytransferring a cursor on the display screen 23A and clicks it by a user.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherethe EPG data D_(EPG) is transmitted by using the MPEG2 system. However,this invention is not only limited to this, but the EPG data D_(EPG) canbe transmitted by using other image compression techniques such as theMPEG1 and JPEG.

Further, the embodiment described above has dealt with the case wherethe www server is used as a computer server for providing the CMdetailed information. However, this invention is not only limited tothis, but other various servers such as a mail server having a functionof sending and receiving a mail, a news server having a function ofexchanging information by a meeting or a notice board, and a FTP serverhaving a function of sending a file. Moreover, the embodiment describedabove has dealt with the case where the integrated receiver/decoder 21and the computer server are connected each other through a telephoneline. However, this invention is not only limited to this, but data canbe sent and received via a satellite transponder for example other thanthe telephone line.

Furthermore, the embodiment described above has dealt with the casewhere the Internet 5 is used as a computer network. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this, but is widely applicable to othervarious communication networks such as a computer network service.

According to this invention described above, the address information forreading the detailed information of the computer server which providesthe detailed information of the distribution information displayed on apredetermined display screen together with a single program or pluralprograms is transmitted with each program information, so as to realizean information transmitting method and a television broadcastingreceiving apparatus which easily obtain, if necessary, the detailedinformation of the distribution information transmitted with eachprogram information without storage of it at a receiving side.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the information transmitting method and the television broadcastingreceiving apparatus, this invention can be utilized in the case wherethe information is distributed by using a satellite broadcasting system,a ground wave broadcasting system, or a wire broadcasting system.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1...program broadcasting system, 2...transmitter, 3...satellitetransponder, 4...receiver, 5...Internet, 6, 7...terminal device,10...output management data producing part, 12...EPG editor, 11...maincontrol part, 12...multiplexer, 20...parabolic antenna, 21... integratedreceiver/decoder, 22...VCR, 23...monitor device, 23A...display screen,24...remote commander, 30...front end, 36...demultiplexer, 44...systemcontroller, 46...multimedia processor, 46A...data converting part,46B...browser controlling part, 46C...memory, 46D...graphic engine,52...modem, 60...program guide display device.

1. An information-transmitting method for transmitting program guideinformation, said method comprising the steps of: processing a pluralityof commercial information which corresponds to said program guideinformation and which is automatically displayed for a single programcolumn or a plurality of program columns on a program guide screen in areceiver and is transmitted together with said program guideinformation; wherein, when a cursor is moved onto a program of a programcolumn of the program guide screen, each of said commercial informationprovided by a commercial information sponsor of the program displayed ateach program column is displayed successively in a single area of thedisplay, shifted temporally from one another; and selectively pickingprogram content data from a plurality of program content regions andcombining the selectively picked program content data from saidplurality of program content regions with transmitted screen layout dataand previously stored standard screen layout data to create said programguide screen; wherein the program guide screen further includes a soundoutput area for controlling the sound output of the commercialinformation, and wherein said program content data includes at leastthree types of data that include modifiable data, fixed data andcomparatively large-sized data; and wherein the modifiable data includesa broadcast schedule of a program and a first reference number to thefixed data the fixed data includes a name of the program, a secondreference number to the modifiable data, and a third reference number tothe comparatively large-sized data, and the comparatively large-sizeddata includes sound data and video data of a commercial, and whereinsaid selectively picked program content data are categorized in at leasttwo types of data with different structures and formats, and wherein aplurality of commercials are successively displayed on a same programguide screen that displays program details for a single program, andwherein the commercial information includes a remote network serveraddress information.
 2. The information transmitting method according toclaim 1, wherein said commercial information includes at least imagedata.
 3. The information transmitting method according to claim 2,wherein said commercial information further includes sound data.
 4. Theinformation transmitting method according to claim 1, wherein saidcommercial information further includes address information of acomputer which provides the detailed information of said commercial. 5.The information transmitting method according to claim 1, wherein saidprogram guide information is composed of a plurality of hierarchicallevels in accordance with the data size, the first hierarchical levelhaving a small amount of data includes identification information foridentifying said commercial information and the second hierarchicallevel having a large amount of data including identification informationfor identifying said commercial information and the actual commercialinformation.
 6. The information transmitting method according to claim1, wherein when a cursor is moved onto one program column on saidelectronic program guide screen, display processing is performed toautomatically display for a single program column or a plurality ofprogram columns in sequence a plurality of commercial informationincluded in one program onto which the cursor has been moved in saidpart of the display area on said electronic program guide screen.
 7. Areceiving apparatus for receiving a signal including commercialinformation and electronic program guide information, said receivingapparatus comprising: processor for displaying a plurality of commercialinformation in a part of a display area and an electronic program guidescreen including program columns corresponding to a plurality ofprograms based on the received electronic program guide information;wherein, when a cursor is moved onto a program of a program column ofsaid program guide screen, said processor performs display processing toautomatically and successively in a single area of the display, beingshifted temporally from one another, for a single program column or aplurality of program columns a plurality of commercial informationprovided by a commercial information sponsor of the program displayed ateach program column in said part of the display area on said electronicprogram guide screen; and program guide processing section forselectively picking program content data from a plurality of programcontent regions and combining the selectively picked program contentdata from said plurality of program content regions with transmittedscreen layout data and previously stored standard screen layout data tocreate said program guide screen; wherein the display area furtherincludes a sound output area for controlling the sound output of thecommercial information, and wherein said program content data includesat least three types of data that include modifiable data, fixed dataand comparatively large-sized data; and wherein the modifiable dataincludes a broadcast schedule of a program and a first reference numberto the fixed data, the fixed data includes a name of the program, asecond reference number to the modifiable data, and a third referencenumber to the comparatively large-sized data, and the comparativelylarge-sized data includes sound data and video data of a commercial, andwherein said selectively picked program content data are categorized inat least two types of data with different structures and formats,wherein a plurality of commercials are successively displayed on a sameprogram guide screen that displays program details for a single program,and wherein the processor displays a remote network server address ofthe commercial information sponsor and enables a user to select theremote network server address and, in response to said selection,display detailed information of the commercial information.
 8. Thereceiving apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: specifying sectionfor specifying a commercial information displayed on a part of saidprogram guide screen; and communication section for communicating withan external computer through a computer network, wherein said processorpicks up the detailed information of said commercial information fromthe external computer through said communication section to display thepicked up detailed information, based on the address informationincluded in said commercial information, when said commercialinformation is specified by said specifying section.
 9. The receivingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said processor, when one programcolumn is selected on said electronic program guide screen, performsdisplay processing to display a program details screen showing in detailthe program corresponding to the program column selected and tosequentially display plural items of commercial information included inthe program in a part of the display area on said program detailsscreen.
 10. The receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein saidprocessor, when commercial information being displayed in said part ofthe display area on said program details screen is designated, performsdisplay processing to display a commercial details screen showing indetail said designated commercial information.
 11. The receivingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said processor, when commercialinformation being displayed in said part of the display area on saidelectronic program guide screen is designated, performs displayprocessing to display a commercial details screen showing in detail saidcommercial information designated.
 12. The receiving apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein said commercial information is commercialinformation of sponsors for providing said programs.
 13. The receivingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said commercial informationincludes at least image data.
 14. The receiving apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said commercial information further includes audiodata.
 15. The receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when acursor is moved onto one program column on said electronic program guidescreen, said processor performs display processing to sequentiallydisplay a plurality of commercial information included in one programonto which the cursor has been moved in said part of the display area onsaid electronic program guide screen.
 16. A receiving method, comprisingthe steps of: receiving a signal including a plurality of commercialinformation and electronic program guide information; displayingcommercial information in a part of a display area and an electronicprogram guide screen having program columns corresponding to a pluralityof programs on the basis of the received electronic program guideinformation; moving a cursor onto one program column on said electronicprogram guide screen being displayed; automatically and successivelydisplaying in a single area of the display, shifted temporally from oneanother, for a program of a single program column or a plurality ofprogram columns a plurality of said commercial information provided by acommercial information sponsor of the program displayed at each programcolumn included in the one program onto which the cursor has been moved,in said part of the display area on said electronic program guidescreen; displaying a remote network server address of a commercialinformation sponsor of the program; enabling a user to select the remotenetwork server address; displaying, in response to said selection,detailed information of the commercial information; and selectivelypicking program content data from a plurality of program content regionsand combining the selectively picked program content data from saidplurality of program content regions with transmitted screen layout dataand previously stored standard screen layout data to create said programguide screen; wherein the display area further includes a sound outputarea for controlling the sound output of the commercial information,wherein said program content data includes at least three types of datathat include modifiable data, fixed data and comparatively large-sizeddata; and wherein the modifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of aprogram and a first reference number to the fixed data, the fixed dataincludes a name of the program, a second reference number to themodifiable data, and a third reference number to the comparativelylarge-sized data, and the con partitively large-sized data includessound data and video data of a commercial, and wherein a plurality ofcommercials are successively displayed on a same program guide screenthat displays program details for a single program, and wherein saidselectively picked program content data are categorized in at least twotypes of data with different structures and formats.
 17. The receivingmethod according to claim 16, wherein when one program column isselected on said electronic program guide screen, a program detailsscreen showing in detail the program corresponding to the program columnselected, and plural items of commercial information included in theprogram are sequentially displayed in a part of the display area on saidprogram details screen.
 18. The receiving method according to claim 17,wherein when commercial information being displayed in said part of thedisplay area on said program details screen is designated, a commercialdetails screen showing in detail the designated commercial informationis displayed.
 19. The receiving method according to claim 16, whereinwhen commercial information being displayed in said part of the displayarea on said electronic program guide screen is designated, a commercialdetails screen showing in detail the designated commercial informationis displayed.
 20. The receiving method according to claim 16, whereinsaid commercial information is commercial information of sponsors forproviding said programs.
 21. The receiving method according to claim 16,wherein said commercial information includes address information of acomputer on a computer network for providing detailed information ofsaid commercials.
 22. The receiving method according to claim 16,wherein when a cursor is moved onto one program column on saidelectronic program guide screen, display processing is performed tosequentially display a plurality of commercial information included inone program onto which the cursor has been moved in said part of thedisplay area on said electronic program guide screen.
 23. Atransmitting-receiving system, comprising: a transmitting apparatus fortransmitting a signal including a plurality of commercial informationand electronic program guide information; and a receiving apparatus forreceiving said signal, said receiving apparatus: displaying commercialinformation in a part of a display area and an electronic program guidescreen having program columns corresponding to a plurality of programson the basis of the electronic program guide information; moving acursor onto one program column on said electronic program guide screenbeing displayed; automatically and successively displaying in a singlearea of the display, shifted temporally from one another, for a programof a single program column or a plurality of program columns a pluralityof said commercial information provided by a commercial informationsponsor of the program displayed at each program column included in theone program onto which the cursor has been moved, in said part of thedisplay area on said electronic program guide screen; displaying aremote network server address of a commercial information sponsor of theprogram; enabling a user to select the remote network server address;displaying, in response to said selection, detailed information of thecommercial information; and selectively picking program content datafrom a plurality of program content regions and combining theselectively picked program content data from said plurality of programcontent regions with transmitted screen layout data and previouslystored standard screen layout data to create said program guide screen;wherein the display area further includes a sound output area forcontrolling the sound output of the commercial information, wherein saidprogram content data includes at least three types of data that includemodifiable data, fixed data and comparatively large-sized data; andwherein the modifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of a programand a first reference number to the fixed data, the fixed data includesa name of the program, a second reference number to the modifiable data,and a third reference number to the comparatively large-sized data, andthe comparatively large-sized data includes sound data and video data ofa commercial, and wherein a plurality of commercials are successivelydisplayed on a same program guide screen that displays program detailsfor a single program, and wherein said selectively picked programcontent data are categorized in at least two types of data withdifferent structures and formats.
 24. The system according to claim 23,wherein said commercial information is commercial information ofsponsors for providing said programs.
 25. The system according to claim23, wherein said commercial information includes address information ofa computer on a computer network which provides detailed information ofsaid commercials.
 26. The system according to claim 23, wherein saidcommercial information includes at least image data.
 27. The systemaccording to claim 26, wherein said commercial information furtherincludes audio data.
 28. The system according to claim 23, wherein whena cursor is moved onto one program column on said electronic programguide screen, display processing is performed to sequentially display aplurality of commercial information included in one program onto whichthe cursor has been moved in said part of the display area on saidelectronic program guide screen.
 29. An information-transmitting methodfor transmitting program guide information, the method comprising thesteps of: processing a plurality of commercial information thatcorresponds to the program guide information and that is automaticallydisplayed for a single program column or a plurality of program columnson a program guide screen in a receiver and is transmitted together withthe program guide information; wherein, when a cursor is moved onto aprogram of a program column of the program guide screen, each of thecommercial information provided by a commercial information sponsor ofthe program displayed at each program column is displayed successivelyin a single area of the display, shifted temporally from one another;and wherein program content data of the program guide informationincludes at least three types of data that include modifiable data,fixed data and comparatively large-sized data; and wherein themodifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of a program and a firstreference number to the fixed data, the fixed data includes a name ofthe program, a second reference number to the modifiable data, and athird reference number to the comparatively large-sized data, and thecomparatively large-sized data includes sound data and video data of acommercial, and wherein the program guide screen further includes asound output area for controlling the sound output of the commercialinformation; and wherein a plurality of commercials are successivelydisplayed on a same program guide screen that displays program detailsfor a single program, and wherein the commercial information includes aremote network server address information.
 30. A receiving apparatus forreceiving a signal including a plurality of commercial information andelectronic program guide information, the receiving apparatuscomprising: processor for displaying the plurality of commercialinformation in a part of a display area and an electronic program guidescreen including program columns corresponding to a plurality ofprograms based on the received electronic program guide information;wherein, when a cursor is moved onto a program of a program column ofthe program guide screen, the processor performs display processing toautomatically and successively display in a single area of the display,shifted temporally from one another, for a single program column or aplurality of program columns the plurality of commercial informationprovided by a commercial information sponsor of the program displayed ateach program column in the part of the display area on the electronicprogram guide screen, wherein program content data of the program guideinformation includes at least three types of data that includemodifiable data, fixed data and comparatively large-sized data; andwherein the modifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of a programand a first reference number to the fixed data, the fixed data includesa name of the program, a second reference number to the modifiable data,and a third reference number to the comparatively large-sized data, andthe comparatively large-sized data includes sound data and video data ofa commercial, and wherein the display area screen further includes asound output area for controlling the sound output of the commercialinformation, and wherein a plurality of commercials are successivelydisplayed on a same program guide screen that displays program detailsfor a single program, and wherein the processor displays a remotenetwork server address of the commercial information sponsor of theprogram and enables a user to select the remote network server addressand, in response to said selection, display detailed information of thecommercial information.
 31. A receiving method, comprising the steps of:receiving a signal including a plurality of commercial information andelectronic program guide information; displaying the plurality ofcommercial information in a part of a display area and an electronicprogram guide screen having program columns corresponding to a pluralityof programs on the basis of the received electronic program guideinformation: moving a cursor onto one program column on the electronicprogram guide screen being displayed; automatically and successivelydisplaying in a single area of the display, shifted temporally from oneanother, for a program of a single program column or a plurality ofprogram columns a plurality of commercial information provided by acommercial information sponsor of the program displayed at each programcolumn included in the one program onto which the cursor has been moved,in the part of the display area on the electronic program guide screen;displaying a remote network server address of a commercial informationsponsor of the program; enabling a user to select the remote networkserver address; and displaying, in response to said selection, detailedinformation of the commercial information, wherein program content dataof the program guide information includes at least three types of datathat include modifiable data, fixed data and comparatively large-sizeddata; and wherein the modifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of aprogram and a first reference number to the fixed data, the fixed dataincludes a name of the program, a second reference number to themodifiable data, and a third reference number to the comparativelylarge-sized data, and the comparatively large-sized data includes sounddata and video data of a commercial, and wherein a plurality ofcommercials are successively displayed on a same program guide screenthat displays program details for a single program, and wherein thedisplay area further includes a sound output area for controlling thesound output of the commercial information.
 32. A transmitting-receivingsystem, comprising: a transmitting apparatus for transmitting a signalincluding a plurality of commercial information and electronic programguide information; and a receiving apparatus for receiving the signal,the receiving apparatus: a display apparatus to display commercialinformation in a part of a display area and an electronic program guidescreen having program columns corresponding to a plurality of programson the basis of the received electronic program guide information; andwherein the display area further includes a sound output area forcontrolling the sound output of the commercial information, and whereinthe transmitting-receiving apparatus automatically and successivelydisplays in a single area of the display, shifted temporally from oneanother, for a program of a single program column or a plurality ofprogram columns a plurality of commercial information provided by acommercial information sponsor of the program displayed at each programcolumn included in the one program onto which a cursor has been moved,in the part of the display area on the electronic program guide screen,and wherein program content data of the program guide informationincludes at least three types of data that include modifiable data,fixed data and comparatively large-sized data; and wherein themodifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of a program and a firstreference number to the fixed data, the fixed data includes a name ofthe program, a second reference number to the modifiable data, and athird reference number to the comparatively large-sized data, and thecomparatively large-sized data includes sound data and video data of acommercial, and wherein a plurality of commercials are successivelydisplayed on a same program guide screen that displays program detailsfor a single program, and wherein the receiving apparatus causes thedisplay apparatus to display a remote network server address of thecommercial information sponsor of the program and enables a user toselect the remote network server address and, in response to saidselection, display detailed information of the commercial information.33. The transmitting-receiving system of claim 32, wherein thetransmitting apparatus further comprises: an output management dataproducer to provide management information for a plurality of programsin the EPG including program broadcast time; an EPG editor to receivethe management information and commercial information and to provide EPGdata; a multiplexer to combine encoded audio/visual program datasynchronized with the EPG data and produce an EPG transmission signalfor transmission. wherein the EPG data has program content data on theprograms of each broadcasting channel during a predetermined timeinterval that hierarchically includes (1) broadcasting form data forregular program, for rebroadcasting programs, for broadcasting programsat a key station, or for broadcasting at a local station; (2) group datathat is common in a plurality of programs of the broadcasting form dataarranged as a single program; and (3) detailed contents data includingrespective programs of the broadcast form data and the particularinformation group data.
 34. A method of displaying commercial data on anelectronic program guide, comprising: receiving the electronic programguide information and a plurality of commercial information; displayingon a display the electronic program guide information having programcolumns corresponding to a plurality of programs; in response to movinga cursor onto a program of a program column, shifted temporally from oneanother, automatically and successively displaying in a single area ofthe display, a plurality of commercial information in a part of thedisplay of the electronic program guide; and displaying a remote networkserver address of a commercial information sponsor of the program;enabling a user to select the remote network server address; displaying,in response to said selection, detailed information of the commercialinformation, wherein program content data of the program guideinformation includes at least three types of data that includemodifiable data, fixed data and comparatively large-sized data; andwherein the modifiable data includes a broadcast schedule of a programand a first reference number to the fixed data, the fixed data includesa name of the program, a second reference number to the modifiable data,and a third reference number to the comparatively large sized data, andthe comparatively large-sized data includes sound data and video data ofa commercial, and wherein the display further includes a sound outputarea for controlling the sound output of the commercial information, andwherein a plurality of commercials are successively displayed on a sameprogram guide screen that displays program details for a single program,and wherein each of the plurality of commercial information is providedby a commercial information sponsor of the program displayed at eachprogram column.